RIOLA SRDO (Sardegna) 7 April 2024 – The opening round of the EMX125 Present by FMF Racing was an excellent show with many riders quickly taking their mark and performing right from the start on a demanding track and hot temperatures.

It was the Hungarian Noel Zanocz from Fantic Factory Racing EMX125 who managed to get a perfect second race win to climb on the top step of the podium and get the first Red Plate of the season.

With a firing start Gyan Doensen from Racestore KTM Factory Rookies took the best of the pack showing off his new colours with Racestore KTM Factory Rookies. In the opening stages, Doensen stormed off with the lead with determination, but his aggressive approach may have backfired as he lost control of his bike and crashed out of his early lead.

Meanwhile, seasoned rider Noel Zanocz seized this opportunity without hesitation to move into the front position. Behind him, the pair from Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC, Mano Faure and Jarne Bervoets trailed closely along with Voss KTM Racing Team’s Dean Gregoire in pursuit. Bervoets briefly went up to second after passing his teammate Faure but then made a mistake and went down the ranking to finish in the end 6th.

Gregoire lost many positions along the way to finish 11th while Doensen who picked up his bike in 10th after going down went back at it without hesitation as he quickly moved up to 3rd behind Faure and Zanocz showing his motivation to start the season the best way possible. 

Doensen was clearly the fastest rider on track and was on a mission as he passed Faure to go 2nd on lap 6 and kept pushing towards leader Zanocz. At the same time the young Latvian Markuss Ozolins made a great run as he found himself 4th on lap 7 but tipped over on a turn an finished 7th in the end.

Doensen reduced the gap quickly with Zanocz and with his incredible momentum swept past the Hungarian to take the lead on lap 10 and never looked back to get a convincing win on this opening race of the season. Zanocz 2nd while Faure finished 3rd despite a small crash without consequences with two laps to go. On the Fantic Factory Racing EMX125 bike, Dowe Van Mechgelen made a solid race to finish 4th.

In Race 2, Faure made a fast start to get out of the first corner at the lead with Alvisi Heitink and Áron Katonafollowing closely. On the other side, Doensen’s crash put him 25th, making him having to work hard to move up the rank.

Heitink made a quick move to go 2nd and passed Alvisi. Meanwhile F4E GASGAS Junior Racing’s Maximilian Ernecker and Katona engaged in a tough battle and a give and take to Ernecker’s advantage.

On lap 3 it was still eventful with Zanocz inviting himself to party to fight for the 3rd place along with Alvisi, Katona and Ernecker. However, mistakes from Alvisi and Ernecker made them go down the ranks. Zanocz was the one to finally get the edge and go to a clear 3rd and pushing towards Heitink in 2nd position. 

In Lap 5 Faure had still a 3-second gap with Heitink but the tenacious Dutch proved to be hard to get rid of. Zanocz was the rider with momentum only a second behind Heitink and managed to pass for 2nd on lap 6. And the Hungarian kept pushing behind leader Faure.

Meanwhile, after his mistake at the start Doensen showed a lot of character as he was up to 9th on lap 7 and keep charging in front of him by riding the fastest laps of the pack. 

On lap 9 Katona crashed out of 4th place with RFME GASGAS MXJunior Team’s Salvador Perez moving up to 4th in front of Kasimir Hindersson from Motovation Moorsport and the impressive Doensen. 

It was then a blow to Faure as he went down on lap 10 and picked himself up in 10th place. Zanocz was the new leader and looked very comfortable at the front. The Hungarian managed to keep it that way until the end to win his first overall in his career. 

Behind it was a heartbreak for Heitink who did an amazing job to get to 2nd behind Zanocz and clinch his first podium as a rookie but his teammate Faure came back from his crash with tremendous pace to finish 6th and passed Heitink for the overall 3rd place on the podium. Doensen on his side with an incredible 4th place after his crash at the start climbed on the 2nd step of the podium to start the season with a confident performance.

Clinching the red plate, Zanocz will go to Trentino full of confidence after a solid and heroic weekend under the very hot temperatures of Sardegna.

Main Photo: Noel Zanocz

Bottom Photos: 1.EMX125 Start ; 2. EMX125 Podium

MXGP OF SARDEGNA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1750m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 26°

Weather conditions: Sunny